Looking to buy a chopped tour pack/ Not sure if I want to spend the money at the dealer. How are the aftermarket ones vs the dealers

 

I've found that the hardware on the aftermarket stuff is lacking. The latches seem finicky and require extra effort to close properly.

 

Check out http://www.surdyke.com/. I had both aftermarket and H-D chopped TP and Harley’s brand is more solid and better quality,so I returned the aftermarket one

 

very true

 

Looking forward to hearing everyone chiming in on this one......I have had both the TMCT knockoff E-bay one and the factory one. Never had an issue with either, though I did use an OEM rack and back pad. Advanblack is a popular one too.

 

I bought advanblack and ordered Black Hinges etc... decent quality pack, Im happy with the pack, but they painted the Chrome latches and hinges, so now I will have them powder coated in the winter, but the color match was spot on

 

I've found the shells all seem to be the same (cast in china). But the hardware is really where the difference is. My saddlebags are from an american seller, but they say china on the bottom of them. The hardware is better metal if you buy the aftermarket stuff through the US. Don't buy the ebay stuff. Screws strip the heads really easy and it seems really cheap metals were used.

 

I have Advanblack for both bikes and no issues with anything.

 

I run a Bad Dad chopped and love it. Its even more solid than the HD one I played with. But it ain't cheap.

 

Installed the HD color matched, chopped pack on my 14 sgs when new. Holding up real well and like it.